An Assessment of the Relationship Between Caregiving for the Elderly and Compassion Fatigue among Formal Caregivers: A Case of Selected Long -Term Care Facilities in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Formal caregivers in Long Term Care (LTC) facilities, also called Assisted Living facilities provide care to vulnerable older adults most of whom live with chronic conditions such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Cancer. Caring for these elderly persons can cause compassion fatigue to formal caregivers whose main components are burn out, stress and burden. The specific objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of compassion fatigue in caregiving among formal caregivers, to establish coping strategies used by the formal caregivers and to assess the relationship between caregiving for the elderly and compassion fatigue among formal caregivers. The study applied a mixed methods design where quantitative data was gathered on demographic variables and qualitative data was gathered on resources to minimize compassion fatigue on caregivers. Psychological assessments and in-depth interviews were used as study methods. Research instruments used in the study included Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI -12) and Burn out Assessment Tool (BAT-23). For a mixed method data analysis, the quantitative and qualitative data was combined and integrated. According to this study, the majority of caregivers felt that compassion fatigue was naturally caused by caring for older persons and that it was completely acceptable to feel sorrow for someone you witnessed suffering for long, but you could not alleviate their pain. In order to successfully perform the task of caregiving at LTC institutions, caregivers must recognize that self-differentiation is a lifelong undertaking. The study recommended that caregivers must recognize that self-differentiation is a lifelong undertaking. Caregivers who learn to empathize with care recipients rather than sympathize with them will succeed in overcoming compassion fatigue.